What does give me great satisfaction is the proof that no one, no matter their position or status, is above the law in this country. This case could so easily have been overlooked and forgotten given the status of the defendant and his position in a very influential institution.

High praise must be accorded to the victims who were brave enough to speak up and praise also must be shared by the Victorian Police who diligently pursued this matter despite a distinct lack of co-operation from a church.

We should be grateful for such a judicial system, that regardless of our standing in the community we can be assured of an impartial hearing before the law. - Al Clark, Belrose

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Regarding the outcry for the Catholic Church hierarchy to act on the Pell conviction, I would remind those who would have him defrocked, that there is still a last step in the legal process to go before it's over ("Church remains silent as Pell is sentenced", March 14).

What if the appeal is upheld? Would not the Pope, et al, be seen to have acted hastily to appease those who would have him rot in jail? - Warren Thomas, Merimbula

I was appalled at the behaviour of the "lynch mob" outside the Melbourne Court before and after the trial and sentencing of Pell.

Is this what we have become – a mob with no respect for anything including court officials, law officials and even police? - Gloria Healey, Neutral Bay

Regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, the TV broadcast of Judge Kidd's sentencing was an enlightening experience (Letters, March 14).

It was not just "another reality television show"; it was a forensic and masterful explanation of the sentencing process about which most of us know little. - Maureen Moss, Beecroft

Your correspondent asks how much has the aggressive atheism that exists in Australia, a movement that is against anything to do with God, Christianity or the church, been a factor in this case (Letters, March 14)?

The answer is very little. The churches of all denominations are the architects of their own misfortune for protecting their reputations by covering up the heinous crimes of paedophile clergy within their ranks, rather than protecting their flock.

Both Christians and atheists are equally sickened by the revelations. Faith is not a prerequisite for respect, compassion and human decency. - Barrington Salter, Neutral Bay

If aggressive atheists are to blame for George Pell's conviction, then we need more of them.

Julia Gillard, the fearless atheist crusader for justice who kick-started the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse would be a logical candidate for sainthood, if the irony of such an appointment could somehow be overlooked. - Greg Cantori, Kareela

Referring to the widespread community interest in George Pell's sentencing, your correspondent used emotive yet ironic words: "Show trials ... are emblematic of a brutality belonging to less enlightened days" (Letters, March 14).

Politicians could learn from students about leadership

Instead of putting their heads in the sand, like those politicians who resist implementing effective policies to reduce carbon emissions, they know the fairy godmother is not going to halt climate change.

These students want, and deserve, a healthy nature environment in the future. - John Cotterill, Kingsford

Striking students for climate change "appalling". Seriously? Most positive changes in society over the centuries have come from various protests.

It is good to see students taking active participation on an issue impacting the whole world. Future leaders for the country come from these students, make them less selfish for a greater cause. - Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

Have we already forgotten this summer, which the Climate Council reports was characterised by "prolonged, continental-scale heatwaves, hot days, drought conditions in eastern Australia and bushfires throughout Australia".

This was with one-degree warming – how much worse will it be with two degrees or more?

Dunlop lists the fossil fuel projects that seem to proliferate yet should not even be getting past first base, not least the Adani Carmichael mine. They are indeed crimes against humanity. The Nationals, not least Resources Minister Matt Canavan, should be thrown out of government for their support of HELE coal power.

If the West Antarctic ice sheet has already passed its tipping point, as Dunlop says, and adds a metre to sea-level by century’s end, seas will rise two metres, or even more if the Greenland ice sheet melts. That means inundation of all the major food-producing deltas in the world. A lot of people will starve, all because we cannot wean ourselves off coal and oil.

Jenny Goldie, Cooma

Thank you, Ian Dunlop. Apart from our disastrously weak targets for our own emissions reduction, we cannot continually ignore the emissions we are exporting. NSW has so many proposed new coal-mines on the books, that they will produce more coal than the Adani mega-mine.

We are about to be the largest LNG exporter in the world. We are the cause of a massive amount of greenhouse gas emissions and we must take responsibility.

The students understand the severity of the situation. Our present governments are not protecting our economy, but they may be protecting their donations from large fossil fuel companies. - Peggy Fisher, Killara

Dunlop is correct, we must act on climate change, now. For all the deniers, naysayers and sceptics, what if you are are wrong?

If we wait any longer, humanity will have the mother of all threats and unlike negotiating against a global enemy with a nuclear warhead, climate change action requires significant industrial, economic restructuring.

NSW and Australia have two very important elections in the coming weeks and months, our votes should not be squandered on ideological bias. The clock is ticking, the risks are growing not diminishing. - Danielle Ecuyer, Bondi Junction

The case for climate change is now so obvious that even a high-ranking carbon-based energy insider, Ian Dunlop, is bellowing about it.

Do we need a royal commission about climate change to find the way forward and look at what's holding us back and destroying the planet. - Bernard Stever, Richmond

In pursuing electoral victory in marginal seats by bribing voters with the promise of more coal mines, the Coalition nationwide and Labor in Queensland are selling our children short.

Today, when the schoolkids demonstrate their leadership on climate change action, we all must listen. - Chris Moe, Bensville

Tax cuts repeat Howard history

The government is considering handing out more tax cuts due to the increase in iron-ore prices ("Tax cuts: PM set to strike while iron ore is hot" March 14). Have they learnt nothing - what happens when the price recedes again, as it inevitably will?

John Howard had plenty of money coming in during the mining development boom, which eventually ended, and threw the money around like a drunken sailor with tax cuts for everyone.

When the boom ended, there was a big cut in government revenues and debts mounted. Surely we are smart enough to learn from the past, look at the future, and listen to the forecasters, to see that rough waters lie ahead. I think it would be a better idea to pay down debt and make sure the books are balanced, with hopefully a little put aside, so we can weather the next storm.

Is it too much to hope that a desperate government can consider Australia's wellbeing and look to a future beyond May? - Ron Wessel, Mount St Thomas

Look, we found $6 billion in our back pocket. Quick, let's give it away. Must be how they got that reputation for good economic management. - Brenton McGeachie, Queanbeyan West

PM brokers deal

Mortgage brokers are an optional extra when organising a loan to buy a house ("Time has come to break the rules", March 14). They are most certainly not "gatekeepers", nor an essential service.

They don't need tertiary qualifications and the regulations in the industry are flimsy. They are simply salespeople earning a commission, just like real estate agents and sharebrokers.

They provide an optional service when you want to look at borrowing money. Same way a cafe owner will smash avos on toast for you when you can do it yourself at home. Use them or don't, it's your choice. - John Penton, Rose Bay

It seems the PM now regards mortgage brokers as a protected species.

Shame about the koalas. - Ron Russell, Leura

Voters backed Brexit

Calls for a second referendum "to restore democracy in the UK" would do the exact opposite ("UK rejects no-deal Brexit", March 14). It would make a mockery of democracy. Don't like the people's choice? Let's do it again, and again. - Peter Pitt, Potts Point

Establishing a commission to examine the ins and outs of a Brexit deal would be a stroke of genius (Letters, March 14). By the time the commission has its findings ready to publish, no one would remember or care what Brexit was. - Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

Liberals ignore process

How can anyone not be cynical about politics with the preselection process blithely ignored in two electorates now ("Laundy's plan to quit seat kept secret", March 14)? Just walk all over the local party members, parachute in a captain's pick, thumb your nose at a long-standing process. Nice one, PM. - Joan Brown, Orange

One of the Liberal Party's worst kept secrets was that the sitting member for Reid, Craig Laundy, would not contest the next election. Further, it has always been acknowledged in the electorate that his venture into politics was a brief diversion before returning to the family business.

While it seems the seat of Reid may be in danger for the government, the electors of Reid deserve better than Morrison selecting a "star candidate" who likely does not come from the area and therefore has no understanding of the community needs.

We have been sorely under-represented for the past two terms of government by the Liberal member, and my advice to the PM is to find a local person with appropriate credentials with whom the electors can relate and possibly find interests in common. - Ross Butler, Rodd Point

Equity in education

I thought in Australia each child was entitled to a free education, yet state schools are using the public humiliation of children to blackmail parents for school fees, just to pay for the basics ("Bondi kids given popcorn if parents paid", March 14).

Governments of all stripes are underfunding the state education system, yet they gift millions of taxpayer dollars to so-called 'independent' schools.

This subsidy makes no difference to the ever increasing, exorbitant fees they charge but goes towards unnecessary additions to their already bloated infrastructure.

Here's an election slogan for you - equity in education. I wonder which party will be brave enough to use it. - Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga

Wage a war of words

Gladys Berejiklian's derisory line that only middle managers would benefit from the lifting of the 2.5 per cent public sector wage cap ignores that nurses, teachers, firefighters, paramedics and police are also subject to the cap ("Premier attacks ALP wages policy", March 14).

Unless, perhaps, she and her government considers these frontline workers to be nothing more than middle managers also.- George Maniatis, Dulwich Hill

Not sure about the Premier's claim that an increase in wages for the state's public servants will end up benefiting middle managers. I had understood that, as most of them had been replaced by contractors, such an increase would mainly affect those on lesser wages. - Peter Nash, Fairlight

In step with America

Australians are always keen to emulate the American business models, trends and standards in all sectors ("Stars caught up in US uni entry scam", March 14) . This time around, though, let's just wait and watch the ripples. Scaringly, this new way could turn into a new wave around the world since it's worked so well in the elite universities of the USA. - Muthukrishnan Srinivasan, Riverview

No politics in law

Scott Morrison announced that a woman who chose to take her children to Syria to fight for IS would face the 'full force of the law' if she was able to return to Australia.

No, Prime Minister, she, like everyone else, will face the law. Whatever penalty she receives is up to the court which, as the judicial arm of government, is separate to the legislative arm of government.

Individualised justice is what we should expect, courts should deliver and politicians should stay away from. - Maureen Tavener, Norfolk Island

Photo wins straw poll

Janie Barrett has to be in the running for "Photograph of the Campaign" ("Premier needles from a haystack", March 14).

Her exquisite front-page snap of the beautifully choreographed double act of John Barilaro and Gladys Berejiklian touring the country Oklahoma-style brought tears of laughter to my eyes.

The only thing missing was audio of the Premier: "I'm just a gal who can't say no, I'm in a terrible fix!". - Bill Young, Greenwich